Traffic charge dismissed

Traffic charge dismissed
NILES -- A misdemeanor traffic charge filed against a Warren police officer has been dismissed.
Patrol Officer Jeffrey Edmundson was charged with not proceeding with caution after the police car he was driving Jan. 16 in Warren collided with another vehicle at East Market Street and Chestnut Avenue.
Because of a possible conflict, the case was transferred from Warren Municipal Court to Niles Municipal Court.
Niles prosecutor Terry Swauger said he requested the case be dismissed because the investigation showed that both Edmundson and the other motorist drove into the intersection when both had the red light for a brief moment -- one red light was about to turn green and the other had just turned red.
Edmundson was responding to a burglary at Thom Duma Fine Jewelry, 115 W. Market, in which 28 watches valued at 65,290 were taken.
Murder trial starts
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Edward C. Anderson, 61, of East Philadelphia Avenue, who is charged with murder in the July 15, 2004, shooting death of his former live-in girlfriend, Mary M. Thompson, 37. Anderson is on trial before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Shot four times after what detectives said was a domestic dispute, Thompson collapsed in a neighbor's driveway and later died in St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Pleads to reduced charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- A man charged in a June, 20, 2004, drive-by shooting pleaded guilty to reduced charges and faces three to nine years in prison. Francisco Bermudez, 32, of Masury, pleaded guilty Monday to felonious assault with a firearm specification in the wounding of Aaron J. Gump, 26, of Belden Avenue, who was shot as he sat in his driveway. Bermudez entered his plea as he was to go to trial in the courtroom of Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Had he been convicted of the original charges of attempted murder and felonious assault with firearm specifications and improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, Bermudez would have faced six to 29 years. The shooting followed a brawl concerning a near-collision in traffic, said J. Michael Thompson, assistant county prosecutor, who is recommending a seven-year prison sentence. A witness told police he saw a man firing a shotgun out the side door of a van. Sentencing will be at 9 a.m. May 18.
Council candidate dies
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Thomas P. Costa, a candidate for city council, died Saturday at his home. He was 72. Costa, remembered for his dedication to the Lawrence County Democratic Party, was a Democratic state committeeman -- an elected position that he had held for several years. Costa's death is the county's second big loss in the Democratic party this year. County Democratic Party chairman Peter A. Vessella died Feb. 27.